Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-25
THE PRESBYTERIANS.
rHE tourHERx GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AT ST. LOUIS.
Discussion Over the Question Of Organic
Union or Cooperation Of the
Two Great Churches.
fB, telegram 70 Tho ni.n.,.n I,

church could not at the same time be an
elder of another church.
TN Committee on Theological Scmina.
rits submitted q report covering the az.
ialfs ~ several seminaries also. the insti-
ute for training c1lored ministers. The
number OF stu0eris in the latter was fifty
five. aud 1t was the belief that the money
paid in training and educating cOIored
teachers was we'll bestowed. Columbia
SEMINARY has been closed for year past,
but II bad been DECIDED TO reopen IL next
September. This seminary has an endOw.
mcni Of S2S0,00G, and It's future was be-
levod TO be very bright.
The Committee on Publication reported
that the debt OF $4,000 hid been paid Off
or provided for. and that 1t now has assets
over liabilities OF $4,000. In view OF this
promising fact il was ordered Tint col
portage he started in presbyteries where
| II does not now exist.
The judicial Committee made a supple
mental report in the case OF Rev. Mr.. Rob
inson, o: North CirOllnl-an appeal from
The Slned OF that Stste-recOmmendlng
that TIE case be tired, and the Reys. w.
II. Davis and L. II. Hoge were named to
represent the appellee.
The Committee on Bills and Overtures
reported on overtures from the Harmony
and South Carolina Presbyteries touching
the acts Of the last assembly on evolution
| and the power Of the General Assembly
1 over theological seminaries and their IN
| siruciOrs. The answer was that the as
| sembly declines TO formulate any de.
| tailed examination OF the acts OF
| the last assembly, as any state
ment, however expressed. could only
Il 10 cd M No 1aIfvaranQa IN tbis
same subject, winch this a ssembly does not
ieel called upon TO make. This was an
answer formulated by a minority OF the
committee. The minority also presented a
report which dealt primarily with the
Jurisdiction OF the different cburch-courts
and the manner in which matters eau be
brought before the General Assembly. 1t
says:
"Res pecting further the question OF the
South carolina Presbltery touchiog the
mode OF creation as defined by the last a.
snmbly, we recommend this assembly 10
answer that the Scriptures clearly reveal
that ia the highest sense God Is
the Creator OF all things, aud con.
seauentIy oi Adam, body and soul, and
10th the Scriptures and our Confession
OF Faith teach that His body was formed OF
the dust OF the ground. Whether Mediator
immediate but 'inscrutably made God
hath not revealed, and this assembly holds
that II is rot gwen 10 the Church TO pro-
nounce definitely as to the mode by which
and the time in which the Creator chose to
work"
The report was docketed for future con-
sderatiOu.
AT 1880 A. d. the organic union or CO.
operation OF the two great Churches cane
IN for consideration. Rev. W. II. Park,
author Of the minimum minority report,
after slight modification OF the minority
report, signed that report and withdrew
his own.
Rev. w. Il. Coppidge, Of Montgomery
county, Va, offered a substitute for The
minority report, recommending harmony
but not union or cooperation.
DR.. Il. X. Smoot, OF Texas, chairman OF
the special committee and representative Of
the minority side OF the question, then
took the floor and made long speech against
union or cooperation. He attacked the
majority repOrt-first, ss to its claims
thai the majority OF the preshyteries
oyerturing the assembly were in
favor Of closer relations. He said
there is not an unanimous sentiment
in any one Of the three synOds Of Missouri,
majority, in favor OF organic union. The
presumption was that the silence OF the
majority OF the prcsby teries placed them in
opposition TO union. There Il not de-
mand in the Church for the opening
OF the question. The Church was not
90 follow in the wake OF any pO-
ltical or business movement in this coun-
try. "They say the war is over.
Politicians North and South are fixing up
their difficulties; but where Is the c0nnec-
ton? This is not n war Church. This is
NOT a seef sslon Church. We hold thatany
man, no matter whether he was born in
Name or Texas, can be taken into the fel.
Iowsbip of our Church. Ii we were united
with Ibe Northern Church every time
we met there would be argument
and disseDsion and alienation. Ours
is not the Southern Church, but
the Church that differs from the
PRESBYTERIAN Church of the United States
in the Interpretation OF our common stand
ard. Church and State are not united. IL
is said that we fellows are pestiferou' old
agitators because we will not unite with
the Northern Church now that our political
differences are settled. IL is sid tnat
The war is over. Well, you have read
of earthquakes, which, after they
have passed, have LEFT assure, III
plains and granite mountains. Tissues in
the plains can be filed up, but they will
remain in the mountains, which represent
principle. as long - the mountain, stand.
/ mem no discOurlesy ~ any gentleman,
but almost all those preachers who
have gone back into the Northern
Church were the most ra5id during
tie war. 1t took two men to hold
them sometimes when the Northern
Church was spoken OF. Quiet men STAYED
the Longest and only went out when they
had to they have not gone back. Waeq
the General Assembly met in Columbus,
Miss, in 1874 or 1915 there was 50 much
talk OF reiinting that our committee sad to
the committee OF the Northern Assembly
that # they would say that the
political differences that caused the
SPLIT were formulated in times Of
great excitement the committee would re-
commend consolidation. The northern
committee would not say that, and there
The matter rested. But you established
raternal relations in 1882? Yes; and the
Northern Assembly agreed to such estab-
lishment on the understanding that they
receded from no principles. Then two
granite pillars were erec.ed, without arch
1t The top or bridge at the bottom, repre-.
senting teo Churches, showing where they
stood and that they stood far apart"
Tue speaker reviswed the various ac-
tions of the Northern Assembly towards
the uniting Of the Churches, and then re-
ierring again TO the majority report, he
thought the dictation Of the basis OF union
disrespectful to the Northern Assembly,
and said "They have too much honesty
and principle to accept those condi-
t,ons.n He advised the abandonment
of the position we had heard OF,
TO the effect that the Northern Church
would not accede to the conditions, but
having proposed it the Southern Church
would have the advantage in the public
mind. "It you love your northern
brethren as you say you do, don't
nut them in that position" He told OF
the Roman general who, after battle,
having been congratulated on his victory,
laid zone more such victory, friends,
aud we are undone." The Church OF God
should not play the politician and ought
not to trick another. This Church ought
10 be toe graud and Christlike 70 resort to
any such methods.
TIE BAPTISTS.
The Convention at Minneapolis